Niccolò
Machiavelli (1469-1527)

Machiavelli is best known for his
notoriously influential work of political theory Il
Principe
(The Prince).

His primary contribution to philosophy
is that he was the first political thinker and writer to
separate morality and the science of politics, and to advocate the
pursuit of power for its own sake.

Perhaps too, Machiavelli was the
first writer to suggest an unpleasant truth about the human condition.

From Discourses:

"It is
necessary for anyone establishing a state and setting down its
laws to presuppose that all people are evil, and that they will always
act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they get the
chance."

In The Prince, his
treatise on the art of leadership, Machiavelli argues that it's the
primary duty
of political leaders to secure and maintain power and to set aside
moral considerations in order to pursue whatever strategies it takes to
achieve that end. The phrase 'the end justifies the means' can aptly be
applied to Machiavelli's political theory.

For example, concerning strategies that
can be employed, Machiavelli felt that ruthlessness may be exercised in
order to achieve the desired end.

The leader (the prince) "should not keep
faith when by so doing it would be against his interest" and he must
"learn not to be good; he should not worry if he incurs reproach for
his cruelty so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal. It is
far better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both."

When considering whether it is better for
a prince to rule by mercy or cruelty, Machiavelli argued that the
excessively merciful prince, by tolerating disorder would often bring
greater harm to the community than the cruel prince who creates harmony
through fear.

Machiavelli has been considered by many to
be an amoralist who had no interest in whether leaders behaved morally,
only whether they were able to secure and retain political power and
glory.

In fact, even today he still has a shaky
reputation. In many dictionaries the term 'Machiavellian' means to be
politically cunning, power-seeking and unscrupulous.

Unfortunately, many people have
misinterpreted Machiavelli's views on politics because they base them
only on his one work. His complete political philosophy can be found in
his work Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus
Livy which is a defense of the principles of
republican government and where he states that the purpose of politics
is to promote the "common good."

Machiavelli was not a great philosopher
but simply a realistic political theorist. His philosophy, which was a
reflection of his life, times and circumstances, was meant to be a
scientific one leaving no room for sentiment, compassion or even
morality.